The United States in recent weeks has been tracking what is believed to be a Russian intelligence gathering ship off the coast of the Hawaiian Islands.
The U.S. Coast Guard said in an update on Thursday that it has been monitoring the vessel, a suspected “intelligence gathering ship”, for several weeks. A video footage released by the coast guard showed the ship in waters off the Hawaiian coast.
“The U.S. Coast Guard is currently monitoring the Russian vessel operating in the vicinity of Hawaii,” said Cmdr. Dave Milne, chief of External Affairs. “As part of our daily operations, we track all vessels in the Pacific area through surface and air assets and joint agency capabilities. The Coast Guard operates in accordance with international laws of the sea to ensure all nations can do the same without fear or contest. This is especially critical to secure freedom of movement and navigation throughout the Blue Pacific.”
The Coast Guard, which said it often observes foreign-flagged military vessels operating and loitering within Coast Guard District Fourteen’s area of response, continues to coordinate “with Department of Defense partners, providing updates to foreign vessel movements and activities and to appropriately meet presence with presence to encourage international maritime norms”, as it is clearly mentioned by the US Coast Guard in a statement released today.
Source: U.S. Coast Guard 14th District Hawaii and the Pacific
